Agrimia Apartments

Franciscan Monastery of Aghios Fragkiskos

This building complex is located on the street "Halidon" and hosts the Archeological Museum of the city. The building is preserved but most of its part has been renovated with many modern interventions.

On its southern side there was a double arcade (chiostro) with the rooms of the monks and other buildings.

Nowadays, the larger part of the arcade is incorporated and occupied by the houses and stores that extend until the entrance of the newer Catholic Temple.

On the northern side of the church of Aghios Fragkiskos, the existence of a beautiful garden is recorded on a map of the time, similar to the one preserved today from the time the church was converted to a mosque.

The recent renovation works have revealed the different construction phases of the temple, some of which are in line with the urban development and reconstructions of the city through time.

A part of the initial design of the temple is still visible in the middle of today's temple.

Later interventions include the construction of three chapels on the northern side, covered by cross-ribbed vaults bearing the gothic monogram of Christ in their center, and the re-modeling of northern front of the temple. In 1605, the extension of the temple to the east probably took place, which is obviously connected to the creation of Ruga Magistra (Halidon Street) during the city's reconstruction and the construction of the new fortification walls. Another extension of the temple was probably realized during the Turskih period, with a construction to west.

The base of the bell tower is preserved on the eastern side of the monument.

During the Turkish period, the temple of Aghios Fragkiskos was converted into a mosque, the "Giousouf Pasha Tzamisi". Then, the minaret and the octagonal fountain were added in the courtyard. In the later years, it was again converted into a cinema and an entertainment center.